ADAMS TWP — Gateway and Mars were both dealing with issues in the first quarter of Monday night's girls basketball showdown between Section 2-5A unbeatens.

For the Planets, it was rebounding as the Gators won the battle on the glass, 13-5, over the first eight minutes. Gateway, on the other hand, had trouble maintaining possession with seven turnovers in that same span.

While Mars was able to even out the rebounds afterward, the Gators never did correct their sloppy play, committing 29 turnovers in a 54-42 loss to the host Planets.

Gateway held a 13-7 lead in the first quarter, but saw that edge slip away late in the first quarter and never pulled even.

“It came down to execution and decision-making,” said Gateway coach Curtis Williams. “I'd say we gave up 20 points tonight in transition because of turnovers.”

The Planets (5-0, 2-0) feasted on Gateway's miscues as sophomore guard Ellie Coffield turned a pair of them into two baskets in the final 20 seconds of the first half, giving Mars a 31-27 lead.

Things went from bad to worse for Gateway (4-1, 1-1) in the third as the team managed just eight attempts from the field and were outscored 15-4 in the quarter.

The Gators made a push at the start of the fourth, cutting Mars' lead to 11 points, but never got within single digits.

Coffield was one of four Planets to reach double-figures by scoring 10 points. Bella Pelaia and Tai Johnson both netted 14 and freshman Ava Black scored 10.

“We have been consistently getting double figures from Ellie, Bella and Tai,” said Mars coach Dana Petruska. “Four players in double figures, that's awesome.

“This was a breakout game for Ava. The way she played tonight, that's the way she is in practice. In practice, you have to go hard and our whole freshman class has been doing that. They play hard and don't get caught up in the petty stuff. Everything has been going well with them.”

Another freshman, Kaitlyn Pelaia, contributed six points for the Planets.

Gators' 6-foot-3 junior center Alexis Jackson was the main reason why Gateway had a decisive advantage in the first period. She tallied six of her 15 rebounds in the quarter, after which Gateway led 13-7.

Jackson ended the game with a double-double that included 15 points.

“We had (Black) on her and we went over things in practice,” said Petruska, “but that's a freshman on a 6-3 junior. Ava was out at the start of the season with injury and is just now getting back. She was a bit cautious at the start of the game tonight.”

“We try to build our offense around Alexis, if we can get her the ball,” said Williams. “She had 19 points, 16 rebounds and 10 blocks against Franklin Regional last week.”

GATEWAY 42

Alexis Margolis 1 0-0 3, Alexis Jackson 7 1-1 15, Jenna Guido 0 1-2 1, Dynasty Shegog 1 2-2 4, Annie Garness 2 0-0 4, Mary Kromka 6 2-3 15, Grace Weiskircher 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 6-8 42.

MARS 54

Ellie Coffield 5 0-0 10, Bella Pelaia 4 4-4 14, Tai Johnson 7 0-0 14, Ava Black 5 0-0 10, Kaitlyn Pelaia 2 2-2 6, Cassie Mueller 0 0-0 0, Caroline Barent 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23 6-6 54.

Gateway 13 14 4 11 — 42

Mars7 24 15 8 — 54

3-point goals: Gateway 2 (Margolis, Kromka); Mars 2 (B. Pelaia 2).

Friday: Mars at Plum